Flexible and storable active spoiler system

ABSTRACT

An active spoiler system for a vehicle is disclosed that changes from a stowed position to a deployed position. In the stowed position, one or more flexible sheets are stored on rollers inside the body of the vehicle. The flexible sheets are pulled outward out of the body of the vehicle by a rigid bar that rotates around a pivot, in response to a controller. The deployed active spoiler may decrease drag thereby increasing fuel efficiency, while also allowing for the active spoiler to be stowed when not needed due to road or weather conditions.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of vehicle active spoilersystems.

BACKGROUND

Broadly, known vehicle designs include a variety of aerodynamicstructures commonly referred to as spoilers. Spoilers include any of awide range of structures that attach to the exterior of a vehicle bodyin order to disrupt, or “spoil”, disadvantageous airflow around thevehicle in order to guide the air flow (which is separating from thebody of the vehicle) toward a desired direction. Spoilers may reducedrag, and may also reduce lift, in order to help the vehicle achieveimproved performance. Namely, a spoiler may allow a vehicle to achieveimproved fuel efficiency or improved stability at high speeds. Rearspoilers are a common accessory on a large number of vehicle designs.

However, spoiler design involves various tradeoffs. For example, aspoiler that may increase vehicle performance under some conditions mayalso be disadvantageous under other conditions. For example, a rearspoiler that is larger may create reduced drag at high speeds but alsodecrease stability under unfavorable weather conditions. As a result,active spoiler systems have been developed that change configurationwhile in use. Active spoiler systems differ from static spoiler systemsin that active spoilers change shape in some way. However, known activespoiler systems suffer from disadvantages including complexities relatedto the actuation and storage of the moving components.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved active spoilersystems that addresses these challenges and other shortcomings in theart.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, this disclosure provides a vehicle including an activespoiler system comprising: a flexible sheet; a roller housed in aninterior of a vehicle body, the roller being attached to a first end ofthe flexible sheet such that at least a portion of the flexible sheet isspooled on the roller when the active spoiler system is in a firstconfiguration; a rigid bar located on a rear side of the vehicle, therigid bar being attached to a second end of the flexible sheet; whereinthe rigid bar is configured to move from a first position to a secondposition in such a way as to cause the flexible sheet to unspool fromthe roller and extend outward from the rear side of the vehicle therebyacting as a spoiler when the active spoiler system is in a secondconfiguration.

In another aspect, this disclosure provides vehicle including an activespoiler system comprising: a plurality of rollers, each roller beinghoused in an interior of a vehicle body at an upper portion of a rearside of the vehicle; a plurality of flexible sheets, each flexible sheetbeing attached to one of the plurality of rollers at a respective firstof each flexible sheet end such that at least a portion of each flexiblesheet is spooled on each respective roller when the active spoilersystem is in a first configuration; a rigid bar located on the rear sideof the vehicle, and extending horizontally across the rear side of thevehicle from a first lateral side of the vehicle to a second lateralside of the vehicle, the rigid bar being attached to each of theplurality of flexible sheets at a respective second end of each flexiblesheet; wherein the rigid bar is configured to rotate rearward anddownward around an axis in order to move from a first position to asecond position, the rotation of the rigid bar causing each of theplurality of flexible sheets to unspool from each of the respectiveplurality of rollers and extend outward from the rear side of thevehicle thereby acting as a spoiler when the active spoiler system is ina second configuration.

In still another aspect, this disclosure provides an active spoilerapparatus comprising: a center flexible sheet; a center roller housed inan interior of a vehicle body at a upper portion of a rear side of thevehicle, the center roller being attached to a first end of the centerflexible sheet such that at least a portion of the center flexible sheetis spooled on the center roller when the active spoiler system is in afirst configuration; a side screen located adjacent to a lateral side ofthe vehicle; the side screen being aligned vertically along the lateralside of the vehicle, the side screen further being at least partiallystowed in the interior of the vehicle body when the active spoilersystem is in the first configuration; a rigid bar located on a rear sideof the vehicle, the rigid bar being attached to a second end of theflexible sheet, a second end of the first side flexible sheet, and asecond end of the second side flexible sheet; and wherein the rigid baris configured to move from a first position to a second position in sucha way as to cause the center flexible sheet to unspool from the centerroller and extend outward, and cause the side screen to move from afirst position to a second position, thereby acting as a spoiler whenthe active spoiler system is in a second configuration.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention willbe, or will become, apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following figures and detailed description. It isintended that all such additional systems, methods, features andadvantages be included within this description and this summary, bewithin the scope of the invention, and be protected by the followingclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood with reference to the followingdrawings and description. The components in the figures are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustratingthe principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, likereference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a vehicle including a first embodiment ofan active spoiler system in accordance with this disclosure;

FIG. 2 is side view of a motor vehicle including a second embodiment ofan active spoiler system in accordance with this disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a motor vehicle including the second embodimentof an active spoiler system;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a motor vehicle including a thirdembodiment of an active spoiler system in accordance with thisdisclosure that includes a clear panel;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of a motor vehicle including a fourth embodimentof an active spoiler system in accordance with this disclosure thatincludes multiple rollers following the curvature of the vehicle roof;

FIG. 6 is top view of a motor vehicle including a fifth embodiment of anactive spoiler system in accordance with this disclosure that includeslateral attachments between adjacent portions of the active spoiler;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a motor vehicle including a sixth embodiment ofan active spoiler system in accordance with this disclosure thatincludes a clear panel;

FIG. 8 is a top view of a motor vehicle including a seventh embodimentof an active spoiler system in accordance with this disclosure thatincludes rollers having smaller diameters at each lateral side;

FIG. 9 is a rear view of a motor vehicle including an eighth embodimentof an active spoiler system in accordance with this disclosure thatincludes a rear center high mount stop light;

FIG. 10 is a side view of a motor vehicle including a ninth embodimentof an active spoiler system in accordance with this disclosure thatincludes a rotatable solid side panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Active spoiler apparatuses for vehicles are described herein. Accordingto the techniques of the example embodiments, the vehicle including anactive spoiler system may be used to achieve improved fuel efficiencyand stability at high speeds while nonetheless also avoiding vehicleperformance degradation under e.g. low speeds or poor weatherconditions. Generally, embodiments of this disclosure are variouslyshown in FIGS. 1 through 10 .

A variety of terms are used in this disclosure. These terms are usedwith reference to the following definitions and descriptions, as well asthe knowledge of a person having ordinary skill in the art of vehicles.

The term “vehicle” as used throughout this disclosure may refer to anymoving vehicle that is capable of carrying occupants or cargo—whetherpowered or unpowered. Vehicles may broadly include motor vehicles, suchas cars, trucks, and SUVs, as well as trailers and other non-motorizedmeans of transportation of occupants or cargo. The term “motor vehicle”as used throughout this disclosure may refer to any vehicle that iscapable of carrying one or more human occupants and is powered by anyform of energy. The term “motor vehicle” includes, but is not limitedto: cars, trucks, vans, minivans, SUVs, motorcycles, scooters, boats,personal watercraft, and aircraft.

The term “spoiler” as used throughout this disclosure may refer to anystructure configured to interrupt airflow around a vehicle.

FIG. 1 shows an isometric rear view of a motor vehicle 100 that includesan active spoiler system 102 in accordance with this disclosure. Activespoiler system 102 may be located on a rear side 156 of motor vehicle100, at an upper portion 162 of rear side 156 that is adjacent to a roof154 of motor vehicle 100. Active spoiler system 102 is shown in FIG. 1in a deployed configuration, as the active spoiler system 102 would bewhen in use.

In an example embodiment, active spoiler system 102 may include a roller104 housed in an interior of the body of motor vehicle 100. In FIG. 1,and throughout this disclosure, components that are inside an interiorand being viewed from outside the motor vehicle 100 are shown withdashed lines. Specifically, as used in this disclosure, the phrase“interior of a motor vehicle body” may refer to any location that iscovered by the exterior visible surfaces of the vehicle. That is, theinterior of a motor vehicle may variously encompass areas inside thestructural body of the vehicle, and not necessarily in areas inside thecabin of the vehicle. Accordingly, the interior of the motor vehicle mayinclude areas such as inside a static spoiler, inside a roof structure,inside a lateral side D-pillar structure, inside a rear side hatch doorstructure, and others.

Roller 104 may be a cylinder that acts as a spool for a flexible sheet106. Roller 104 may be aligned substantially parallel with roof 154 inupper portion 162 of rear side 156.

In this embodiment, flexible sheet 106 is pulled outward, out of theinterior of upper portion 162, by a rigid bar 110. Rigid bar 110 may belocated on rear side 156 of motor vehicle 100, extending horizontallyacross rear side 156 from a first lateral side 150 to a second lateralside 152. In this way, flexible sheet 106 may also extend laterallyacross at least a portion of a width of rear side 156 of motor vehicle100 that extends from first lateral side 150 to second lateral side 152.

In this embodiment, flexible sheet 106 is attached to a center portion116 of rigid bar 110. Rigid bar 110 may include a first side portion114, center portion 116, and a second side portion 118. First sideportion 114 of rigid bar 110 may be attached to a pivot point 112 (alsoreferred to herein as “pivot”) adjacent to first lateral side 150 ofmotor vehicle 100. Pivot 112 may include a motor or other actuator formoving rigid bar 110 from a first position to a second position. Asecond pivot (not shown) may also be located adjacent to second lateralside 152 that is substantially similar to pivot 112 to which second sideportion 118 of rigid bar 110 may be attached.

Specifically, in the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , pivot 112may be located on rear side 156 of vehicle 100 adjacent to first lateralside 150 of vehicle 100. For example, pivot 110 may be located on a rearwindshield 158, or on a side portion 159 that surrounds windshield 158as shown. In the particular embodiment of a motor vehicle 100 shown inFIG. 1 , pivot 112, windshield 158, and side portion 159 on rear side156 are all part of a hatch-back trunk lid 161. Seam 157 may be thedemarcation between rear side 156 and lateral side 150. As is commonlyknown, a trunk lid 161 as shown may open by pivoting upward at one ormore hinges that are adjacent to roof 154. Accordingly, in theembodiment shown, active spoiler system 102 may be entirely located ontrunk lid 161—including pivot 112. However, in other embodiments (notshown) that are not necessarily a hatch back trunk lid, a pivot pointmay be located on other locations such as on a lateral side of a motorvehicle.

In the deployed configuration shown in FIG. 1 , active spoiler system102 may therefore extend over a portion of a rear window 158 so as tocreate a larger spoiler surface and to disrupt unfavorable airflowaround rear side 156 of motor vehicle 100. Active spoiler system 102 mayinclude a static upper rear spoiler portion 160 that houses roller 104,as mentioned above, as well as housing at least a portion of flexiblesheet 106, and also a pulley 108. Pulley 108 may be configured to directflexible sheet 106 as it deploys from within static upper rear spoilerportion 160 into the deployed configuration shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 2 shows a similar embodiment of an active spoiler system 202 infurther detail. Specifically, FIG. 2 shows a side view of active spoilersystem 202 that includes a roller 204 housed in an interior of the bodyof motor vehicle 100. The top configuration shown in FIG. 2 may be thestowed configuration 203, where the active spoiler is not currently inuse. In the first, stowed, configuration 203 the flexible sheet 206 maybe substantially spooled on roller 204. That is, flexible sheet 206 maybe attached to roller 204 at a first end 220 of flexible sheet 206 suchthat at least a portion 222 of flexible sheet 206 is spooled on roller204 when active spoiler system 202 is in first configuration 203.

A second end 226 of flexible sheet 206 may then be attached to a rigidbar 210. In the first configuration 203 shown in the top of FIG. 2 ,rigid bar 210 is in a first position 205. First position 205 of rigidbar 210 may be substantially adjacent to a static upper rear spoilerportion 260. Active spoiler system 202 may also include a pulley 208,such that flexible sheet 206 spools around roller 204, then extendsalong portion 224 to pulley 208, and then attaches to rigid bar 210 atsecond end 226 of flexible sheet 206.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 , active spoiler system 202 alsoincludes a side roller 230. Side roller 230 may be aligned verticallyalong first lateral side 150 of motor vehicle 100 and is located suchthat one end of side roller 230 may be substantially adjacent to one endof roller 204. This embodiment may allow an active spoiler to cover aportion of the D-pillar on first lateral side 150. It should beunderstood that a substantially similar arrangement may also be providedadjacent to second lateral side 152.

In the bottom configuration shown in FIG. 2 , a second, deployedconfiguration 207 of active spoiler system 202 is shown in a deployedposition. In this second configuration 207, rigid bar 210 has moved fromfirst position 205 to a second position 209 in such a way as to causeflexible sheet 206 to unspool from roller 204 and extend outward from anend of static upper rear spoiler portion 260 on rear side 156 of motorvehicle 100 and thereby act as a spoiler. Specifically, flexible sheet206 may be held taut between roller 204 at one end 220 and rigid bar 210at second end 226. The movement of rigid bar 210 from first position 205to second position 209 may therefore create an active spoiler surface228 formed by flexible sheet 206.

Similarly, the same process may occur with respect to a side roller 230and a side flexible sheet 232. Side flexible sheet 232 may be attachedto side roller 230 at one end 234, and attached to a side portion 214 ofrigid bar 210 at second end 236. Side flexible sheet 232 may be attachedto rigid bar side portion 214 substantially adjacent to where flexiblesheet 206 attaches to rigid bar 210 (e.g., at second end 226).Therefore, the movement of rigid bar 210 from first position 205 tosecond position 209 may unspool side flexible sheet 232 from side roller230. As a result, side flexible sheet 232 may extend outward from sideportion 259 that is adjacent to first lateral side 150 of motor vehicle100 (as separated by seam 257), thereby acting as a spoiler inconjunction with flexible sheet 206 when active spoiler system 202 is insecond, deployed configuration 207.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 , rigid bar 210 may rotate around apivot point 212 in order to move from first position 205 to secondposition 209. Specifically, rigid bar 210 may rotate rearward anddownward around an axis defined by pivot point 212. Pivot point 212 mayinclude a motor or other actuator that causes rigid bar 210 to move fromfirst position 205 to second position 209.

In some embodiments, pivot point 212 may include an actuator (not shown)that is controlled by a controller (also not shown). A controller may bea specialized computing device, or a general computing device,configured to trigger an actuator so as to deploy active spoiler system202 to cause it to change configuration from first, stowed configuration203 to second, deployed configuration 207. For example, the controllermay be configured to change the active spoiler system 202 to deploy inresponse to one or more inputs selected from the group consisting of:vehicle speed, ambient temperature, local precipitation, user inputs,and vehicle performance mode. As a result of this, active spoiler system202 may deploy when doing so would appropriately improve vehicleperformance. The control may also be configured to stow the activespoiler system 202, by changing it from second configuration 207 tofirst configuration 203, in response to similar inputs. The controllermay therefore allow the active spoiler system 202 to be automatically ormanually deployed (or stowed).

FIG. 3 shows a top view of active spoiler system 202, as previouslyshown in FIG. 2 and discussed above. In FIG. 3 , side roller 230 isshown adjacent to first lateral side 150 while a corresponding secondside roller 244 may be correspondingly disposed adjacent to secondlateral side 152. Between them, multiple rollers (204, 240, 242) mayextend laterally across a width of the motor vehicle 100 between firstlateral side 150 and second lateral side 152. In particular, first toproller 204 may be adjacent to first side roller 230 at one end, andfirst top roller 204 may be adjacent to second top roller 240 and itsother end. Second top roller 240 may be disposed laterally between firsttop roller 204 and third top roller 242.

In this embodiment, each of the multiple top rollers 204, 240, 242 maybe connected to a first end of a single flexible sheet 206. Portion 224of flexible sheet 206 maybe contained within upper spoiler portion 260as discussed above with respect to FIG. 2 . Then, when rigid bar 210moves from first position 205 to second position 209, flexible sheet 206may extend outward and rearward to form a spoiler surface 228. Sideportion 214 of rigid bar 210 may be attached to side flexible sheet 232and deploy in a similar manner, as shown. Second side portion 218 ofrigid bar 210 may similarly be attached to a second side flexible sheet233. Active spoiler system 202 may therefore be laterally symmetric,including two side portions 232, 233 and a lateral top portion 228.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of an active spoiler system 302. In thisembodiment, rear side 156 of motor vehicle 100 includes a center highmount stop light 164 at a top side of rear window 158 that is just belowstatic upper rear spoiler portion 160. As center high mount stop light164 is located where a spoiler may deploy, active spoiler system 302 mayinclude a configuration to ensure that center high mount stop light 164will still be visible when the active spoiler system 302 is deployed.

Specifically, active spoiler system 302 may include a first sideflexible sheet 320, a center flexible sheet 322, and a second sideflexible sheet 324. In this embodiment, first side flexible sheet 320and second side flexible sheet 324 may each be attached to centerflexible sheet 322. Furthermore, center flexible sheet 322 may comprisea material that is transparent. As a result of center flexible sheet 322being transparent, center high mount stop light 164 may be visiblethrough center flexible sheet 322.

A transparent material used for center flexible sheet 322 may be atransparent plastic polymer. For example, center flexible sheet 322 maybe made from a polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride(PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC),polymethyl methacrylate, or others. Generally, the polymer need be bothtransparent and also flexible enough to spool onto a roller. Otherwise,materials that may be used for first side flexible sheet 320 or secondside flexible sheet 324 may include a fabric, other textiles, syntheticleather, natural leather, and non-transparent polymer sheets. Inparticular embodiments, a fabric may be used for the flexible sheet inany of the several embodiments discussed in this disclosure. In otherparticular embodiments, a fabric or a leather (synthetic or natural) maybe used in particular as the flexible sheet in any of the severalconfigurations shown variously in the figures and discussed herein.

Additionally, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 , first side flexiblesheet 320 may include both a portion of the lateral width that isattached to center portion 316 of rigid bar 310 and also a vertical sideportion that is attached to rigid bar side portion 314. Second sideflexible sheet 324 may be symmetrically configured, as well. In thisway, flexible sheet 306 may seamlessly extend from first lateral side150 of motor vehicle 100 to second lateral side 152.

Next, FIG. 5 shows a rear view of a motor vehicle including a fourthembodiment of an active spoiler system 502. In this embodiment, activespoiler system 502 may include multiple top surface rollers 520, 522,524. These rollers may be disposed within an interior of the body ofmotor vehicle 100 so as to follow the curvature 534 of the roof 554.Namely, the plurality of top surface rollers 520, 522, 524 may followthe roof curvature 534 such that each top surface roller 520, 522, 524is disposed at an offset angle 530, 532 with respect to an adjacent topsurface roller 520, 522, 524.

Specifically, middle top surface roller 522 may be aligned substantiallyparallel with a center of roof 554. First side top surface roller 520may then be disposed at an offset angle 530 relative to middle topsurface roller 522. Offset angle 530 may be such that first end 540 offirst side top surface roller 520 may be vertically higher than secondend 542 of first side top surface roller 520. Similarly, offset angle532 may be such that first end 544 of second side top surface roller 524may be vertically higher than second end 546 of second side top surfaceroller 524. In this way, the plurality of top surface rollers 520, 522,524 may follow the curvature 534 of the roof 554. As a result, thisconfiguration of an active spoiler system may allow for minimizing theinterior space taken up by the top surface rollers in order to best usepackaging space in the body of the vehicle.

FIG. 6 shows a fifth embodiment of an active spoiler system 602. Activespoiler system 602 may include a plurality of top surface rollers 620,622, 624 that are each attached to a respective one of a plurality oftop surface flexible sheets 630, 632, 634. Specifically, a first sidetop surface roller 620 may be attached to a first side top surfaceflexible sheet 630 at a first end (not shown in FIG. 6 , as discussedabove) of first side top surface flexible sheet 630 such that first sidetop surface flexible sheet 630 is spooled on first side top surfaceroller 620 when active spoiler system 602 is in a first, stowedconfiguration 603. A top surface roller 622 may then be attached to afirst end (not shown) of a top surface flexible sheet 632 such that topsurface flexible sheet 632 is spooled on top surface roller 622 whenactive spoiler system 602 is in first configuration 603. Next, a secondside top surface roller 624 may be attached to a first end (not shown)of a second side flexible sheet 634 such that second side flexible sheet634 is spooled on second side top surface roller 624 when active spoilersystem 602 is in first configuration 603.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 , each flexible sheet 630, 632, 634may be at least partially attached to an adjacent flexible sheet.Specifically, first side top surface flexible sheet 630 may be attachedto top surface flexible sheet 632 along an attachment 636 and secondside top surface flexible sheet 634 may be attached to top surfaceflexible sheet 632 along an attachment 638. Such attachments 636, 638may be stitching, welding, fastening, hook-and-loop fasteners, or otherattachment means.

The attachments 636, 638 between adjacent flexible sheets 630, 632, 634may be located at least at a second end of each flexible sheet 630, 632,634 that is attached to the rigid bar 610. As shown in a second,deployed configuration 607, this arrangement may help ensure that theplurality of flexible sheets 630, 632, 634 together form a continuousspoiler surface when deployed. Nonetheless, in this embodiment whereattachments 632, 634 do not extend the full length of where the flexiblesheets are adjacent to each other, a gap 621, 623 partially remainsbetween the flexible sheets 630, 632, 634. Such a gap 621, 623 may allowthe flexible sheets to easily spool onto their respective roller 620,622, 624 as those rollers follow the curvature of a vehicle roof, asdiscussed with respect to FIG. 5 .

FIG. 7 shows a sixth embodiment of an active spoiler system 702. Thisactive spoiler system 702 may include features similar to active spoilersystem 602 shown in FIG. 6 and discussed above, as well as featuressimilar to active spoiler system 302 shown in FIG. 4 and discussedabove. Specifically, active spoiler system 702 may include a pluralityof top surface rollers 720, 722, 724 each attached to a respectiveflexible sheet 730, 732, 734.

In this embodiment, attachments 736, 738 between adjacent flexiblesheets 730, 732, 734 may extend the full length from a first end of eachflexible sheet (where it attaches to the respective roller) to a secondend of each flexible sheet (where it attached to the rigid bar 710). Inthis way, each flexible sheet may be fully attached to each adjacentflexible sheet. This may aid in coordinating extension and retraction ofthe flexible sheets between the deployed and stowed configurations.

Additionally, FIG. 7 shows top surface flexible sheet 732 as beingtransparent. This embodiment may be used in order to ensure that acenter high mount stop light is visible through the active spoiler whenit is in a deployed configuration, as is discussed with respect to FIG.4 above. In other similar embodiments, not shown, at least a portion oftop surface flexible sheet 732 may be transparent—such as a “window” oftransparent material in a central region of top surface flexible sheet732 that aligns with the location of the center high mount stop lightwhen the active spoiler system is deployed, but is otherwise surroundedby opaque material in top surface flexible sheet 732.

FIG. 8 shows a seventh embodiment of an active spoiler system 802. Thisactive spoiler system 802 also includes a plurality of top surfacerollers 820, 822, 824. However, these top surface rollers may have adifferent shape than shown in other embodiments discussed in thisdisclosure. Namely, side top surface rollers 820 and 824 may be conicalin shape. That is, a first side top surface roller 820 may have a firstdiameter 850 at an end adjacent to a top surface roller 822, and asecond diameter 852 at an opposite end adjacent to first lateral side150 of motor vehicle 100. Second diameter 852 may be less than firstdiameter 850. Similarly, a second side top surface roller 824 may have athird diameter 856 at a first end adjacent to top surface roller 822,and a fourth diameter 858 at an opposite end that is adjacent to secondlateral side 152 of motor vehicle 100. Fourth diameter 858 may also beless than third diameter 856.

In some embodiments as shown, top surface roller 822 may have a constantdiameter 854 that may be substantially the same as first diameter 850 offirst side top surface roller 820 and third diameter 856 of second sidetop surface roller 824.

This configuration may aid in proper stowing of the flexible sheets 820,822, 824 in view of the lengths of various portions of the flexiblesheets differing when deployed. Namely, when active spoiler system 802is in a second, deployed configuration 807, the total fore-aft length860 of various portions of the plurality of flexible sheets can be seen.Length 860 may correspond to the distance between rigid bar 810 and endof first side top surface roller 820 adjacent to first lateral side 150,a length 862 may correspond to the distance between rigid bar 810 andthe oppose end of first side top surface roller 820 adjacent to topsurface roller 822. Length 862 may be larger than length 860. As aresult, larger first diameter 850 of first side top surface roller 820may spool this larger length with an equal number of rotations as maybenecessary to spool length 860 onto second diameter 852. Roller 824 maybe symmetric with respect to a length 866 being larger than a length868. As a result of this configuration, the flexible sheets may easilyand smoothly spool onto the respective roller while optimizing thestorage space needed within the interior of the motor vehicle body.

FIG. 9 shows an eighth embodiment of an active spoiler system 902. Inthis embodiment, a rigid bar 910 may include a center high mount stoplight 970 therein. Specifically, center high mount stop light 970 may beincluded in a center portion 916 of rigid bar 910, such that center highmount stop light 970 may be located laterally in the center of rear side156 of motor vehicle 100. As a result, center high mount stop light 970may be separated from roof 154 and instead be a part of rigid bar 910.

This embodiment may advantageously allow the center high mount stoplight 970 to be viewed regardless of whether active spoiler system 902is stowed or deployed. This may be an alternative to embodiments such asare shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 7 .

Finally, FIG. 10 shows a ninth embodiment of an active spoiler system1002. Active spoiler system 1002 may include a rigid lateral portion1020. Rigid lateral portion 1020 may be disposed adjacent to firstlateral side 150, instead of a side roller such as is shown in FIG. 2and discussed above. Generally, a side portion of an active spoilersystem (such as either a rigid lateral portion 1020 or a side roller)may be referred to as a side screen.

Rigid lateral portion 1020 may rotate about a pivot 1012, byapproximately a rotational degree that is less than about 45 degrees inorder to move from a stowed configuration 1003 to a deployedconfiguration 1007. The angle of rotation that rigid lateral portion1020 rotates when moving from the stowed configuration 1003 to thedeployed configuration 1007 may depend on the location of pivot point1012 and the desired spoiler extension angle and length when deployed.

Specifically, rigid lateral portion 1020 may be attached to rigid bar1010 at a portion 1014. Then, when rigid bar 1010 moves from a firstposition 1005 to a second position 1009, rigid lateral portion 1020 mayrotate around pivot 1012.

Rigid lateral portion 1020 may also be configured to reversibly attachto an adjacent top surface flexible sheet 1028. For example, rigidlateral portion 1020 may include a C-channel formed therein, into whichan edge of flexible sheet 1028 may engage when the active spoiler system1002 is in a deployed configuration 1007. In this way, rigid lateralportion 1020 may form a side portion of the active spoiler that securelyforms a spoiler surface with flexible sheet 1028.

An active spoiler system 1002 may have first side rigid lateral portion1020 adjacent to first lateral side 150 of the motor vehicle 100, andalso have a symmetric second side rigid lateral portion (not shown) onsecond lateral side 152 of motor vehicle 100.

As a result of the active spoiler systems discussed herein above, amotor vehicle may achieve reduced drag. The specific structuresdisclosed herein may be expected to reduce total drag on the vehicle byat least about 1% to at least about 6%. This may therefore allow thevehicle (e.g., motor vehicle 100) to achieve increased fuel efficiency,reducing the vehicle's environmental impact. At the same time, theactive spoiler may also be stowed when conditions might bedisadvantageous based on factors such as speed or weather.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described, thedescription is intended to be exemplary, rather than limiting and itwill be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many moreembodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scopeof the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restrictedexcept in light of the attached claims and their equivalents. Also,various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of theattached claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A vehicle including an active spoilersystem comprising: a flexible sheet; a roller housed in an interior of avehicle body, the roller being attached to a first end of the flexiblesheet such that at least a portion of the flexible sheet is spooled onthe roller when the active spoiler system is in a first configuration; arigid bar located on a rear side of the vehicle, the rigid bar beingattached to a second end of the flexible sheet; wherein the rigid bar isconfigured to move from a first position to a second position in such away as to cause the flexible sheet to unspool from the roller and extendoutward from the rear side of the vehicle thereby acting as a spoilerwhen the active spoiler system is in a second configuration.
 2. Thevehicle of claim 1, wherein the roller and the spooled portion of theflexible sheet are housed within a static upper rear spoiler on an upperportion of the rear side of the vehicle; the rigid bar rotates rearwardand downward around an axis in order to move from the first position tothe second position; the rigid bar extends horizontally across the rearside of the vehicle from a first lateral side of the vehicle to a secondlateral side of the vehicle; and the roller is aligned substantiallyparallel with a roof of the vehicle, such that the unspooled flexiblesheet extends laterally across at least a portion of a width of thevehicle when the active spoiler system is in the second configuration.3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the active spoiler system furtherincludes: a side roller, the side roller being aligned vertically alonga lateral side of the vehicle and located such that one end of the sideroller is substantially adjacent to one end of the roller; the sideroller being attached to a first end of a side flexible sheet; the sideflexible sheet being attached to the rigid bar at a second end of theside flexible sheet, substantially adjacent to where the flexible sheetattaches to the rigid bar; wherein the side flexible sheet is at leastpartially spooled on the side roller when the active spoiler system isin the first configuration, and the side flexible sheet extends outwardfrom the lateral side of the vehicle thereby acting as the spoiler inconjunction with the flexible sheet when the active spoiler system is inthe second configuration.
 4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the activespoiler system is located on a motor vehicle trunk lid.
 5. The vehicleof claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet comprises a portion that is atleast partially transparent; and the at least partially transparentportion is located over a center high mount stop light when the activespoiler system is in the second configuration.
 6. The vehicle of claim1, wherein the rigid bar further includes a center high mount stop lighttherein.
 7. A vehicle including an active spoiler system comprising: aplurality of rollers, each roller being housed in an interior of avehicle body at an upper portion of a rear side of the vehicle; aplurality of flexible sheets, each flexible sheet being attached to oneof the plurality of rollers at a respective first of each flexible sheetend such that at least a portion of each flexible sheet is spooled oneach respective roller when the active spoiler system is in a firstconfiguration; a rigid bar located on the rear side of the vehicle, andextending horizontally across the rear side of the vehicle from a firstlateral side of the vehicle to a second lateral side of the vehicle, therigid bar being attached to each of the plurality of flexible sheets ata respective second end of each flexible sheet; wherein the rigid bar isconfigured to rotate rearward and downward around an axis in order tomove from a first position to a second position, the rotation of therigid bar causing each of the plurality of flexible sheets to unspoolfrom each of the respective plurality of rollers and extend outward fromthe rear side of the vehicle thereby acting as a spoiler when the activespoiler system is in a second configuration.
 8. The vehicle of claim 7,wherein each of the plurality of rollers are aligned substantiallyparallel with a roof of the vehicle, the roof having a shape with acurvature and the plurality of rollers following the roof curvatureshape.
 9. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein one of the plurality of theflexible sheets, located above a center high mount stop light disposedon the rear side of the vehicle, is transparent; and the transparentflexible sheet is located over the center high mount stop light when theactive spoiler system is in the second configuration.
 10. The vehicle ofclaim 7, wherein each of the plurality of flexible sheets is at leastpartially attached to each adjacent flexible sheet, at least at thesecond end of each flexible sheet; and each of the plurality of flexiblesheets is made from a fabric.
 11. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein afirst outer roller, located adjacent to a middle roller, has a firstdiameter at a first end of the first outer roller closer to the middleroller and has a second diameter at a second end closer to a firstlateral side of the vehicle; the first diameter being larger than thesecond diameter; a second outer roller, located adjacent to the middleroller horizontally opposite the first outer roller, has a thirddiameter at a first end of the second outer roller that is closer to themiddle roller and has a fourth diameter at a second end of the secondouter roller that is closer to a second lateral side of the vehicle; andthe third diameter being larger than the fourth diameter.
 12. Thevehicle of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of rollers are housedwithin a static upper rear spoiler on an upper portion of the rear sideof the vehicle; and the static upper rear spoiler includes one or morepulleys located at an outermost edge of the static upper rear spoiler,the one or more pulleys being configured to align the plurality offlexible sheets as they unspool from the plurality of rollers when theactive spoiler system changes from the first configuration to the secondconfiguration.
 13. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the active spoilersystem further includes: a first side roller, the first side rollerbeing aligned vertically along a first lateral side of the vehicle; thefirst side roller being attached to a first end of a first side flexiblesheet; a second side roller, the second side roller being alignedvertically along a second lateral side of the vehicle; the second sideroller being attached to a first end of a second side flexible sheet;the first side flexible sheet and the second side flexible sheet beingattached to the rigid bar at a respective second end; wherein each ofthe first side flexible sheet and the second side flexible sheet is atleast partially spooled on the respective side roller when the activespoiler system is in the first configuration; and wherein each of thefirst side flexible sheet and the second side flexible sheet extendsoutward from the respective lateral side of the vehicle thereby actingas the spoiler in conjunction with the plurality of flexible sheets whenthe active spoiler system is in the second configuration.
 14. Thevehicle of claim 7, wherein the active spoiler system further includes:a first side rigid lateral portion, located adjacent to a first lateralside of the vehicle; and a second side rigid lateral portion, locatedadjacent to a second lateral side of the vehicle; wherein each of thefirst side rigid lateral portion and the second side rigid lateralportion are configured to rotate around the axis around which the rigidbar also rotates; wherein each of the first side rigid lateral portionand the second side rigid lateral portion are configured to reversiblyattach to an adjacent center flexible sheet when the active spoilersystem is in the second configuration; and wherein each of the firstside rigid lateral portion and the second side rigid lateral portioninclude a c-channel formed therein, into which an edge of the centerflexible sheet may engage when the active spoiler system is in thesecond deployed configuration.
 15. An active spoiler apparatuscomprising: a center flexible sheet; a center roller housed in aninterior of a vehicle body at a upper portion of a rear side of thevehicle, the center roller being attached to a first end of the centerflexible sheet such that at least a portion of the center flexible sheetis spooled on the center roller when the active spoiler system is in afirst configuration; a side screen located adjacent to a lateral side ofthe vehicle; the side screen being aligned vertically along the lateralside of the vehicle, the side screen further being at least partiallystowed in the interior of the vehicle body when the active spoilersystem is in the first configuration; a rigid bar located on a rear sideof the vehicle, the rigid bar being attached to a second end of theflexible sheet, a second end of the first side flexible sheet, and asecond end of the second side flexible sheet; and wherein the rigid baris configured to move from a first position to a second position in sucha way as to cause the center flexible sheet to unspool from the centerroller and extend outward, and cause the side screen to move from afirst position to a second position, thereby acting as a spoiler whenthe active spoiler system is in a second configuration.
 16. The activespoiler apparatus of claim 15, wherein the side screen includes a firstside roller, the first side roller being aligned vertically along afirst lateral side of the vehicle; the first side roller being attachedto a first end of a first side flexible sheet such that at least aportion of the first side flexible sheet is spooled on the first sideroller when the active spoiler system is in the first configuration; asecond side roller, the second side roller being aligned verticallyalong a second lateral side of the vehicle; and the second side rollerbeing attached to a first end of a second side flexible sheet such thatat least a portion of the second side flexible sheet is spooled on thesecond side roller when the active spoiler system is in the firstconfiguration.
 17. The active spoiler apparatus of claim 15, wherein theside screen includes a first side rigid lateral portion, locatedadjacent to a first lateral side of the vehicle; and a second side rigidlateral portion, located adjacent to a second lateral side of thevehicle; wherein each of the first side rigid lateral portion and thesecond side rigid lateral portion are configured to rotate around theaxis around which the rigid bar also rotates; wherein each of the firstside rigid lateral portion and the second side rigid lateral portion areconfigured to reversibly attach to the center flexible sheet when theactive spoiler system is in the second configuration.
 18. The activespoiler apparatus of claim 15, wherein the rigid bar further includes acenter high mount stop light therein.
 19. The active spoiler apparatusof claim 15, wherein each of the center flexible sheet, the first sideflexible sheet, and the second side flexible sheet is made from afabric.
 20. The active spoiler apparatus of claim 15, wherein the centerflexible sheet is transparent; and the active spoiler system is locatedon a motor vehicle trunk lid.